Access control device for delivering coded knocks

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides a device for delivering coded data in the form of knocks, comprising an electric motor capable of bi-directional rotation, a control utility to command the motor to alternately rotate in two opposite directions; a knocking element coupled to the motor such so as to be rotated thereby; and an anvil element positioned so as to being successively impacted by the knocking element in each of the two rotational directions.

TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

The invention concerns a data transmission device for delivering data inthe form of a series of encoded knocks.

PRIOR ART

References considered to be relevant as background to the presentlydisclosed subject matter are listed below:

-   -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,195    -   U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,314

Acknowledgement of the above references herein is not to be inferred asmeaning that these are in any way relevant to the patentability of thepresently disclosed subject matter.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 6,411,195 describes a device that is configured fordelivering a code in the form of a series of knocks. The device of thispatent has an impeller head that is capable of reciprocation to therebytransmit an encoded series of discrete mechanical impacts to a surfaceof an impact transmissive body. An impact sensitive transducer isconfigured for picking-up the vibrations and decoding the datatherefrom. A particular example of this device is for access control.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,848,314 describes a device for receiving datatransmitted as impulses through an input transmission body. The devicehas a vibration sensitive transducer which constitutes part of afloating mass assembly with a pick-up portion. The pick-up portion isbiased towards a surface of a rigid body that is either the inputtransmission body or a vibrations transmissive member. The assembly hasa freedom of movement permitting it to vibrate independently from therigid body.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the invention a new access control device fordelivering coded data in the form of knocks is provided. By the use ofthe access control device of the invention, the rate of transmission ofthe knocks-coded data to an impact transmissive object is increased ascompared to the art noted above.

The access control device of the invention comprises an electric motor,a control utility, a knocking element and an anvil element. The electricmotor is of a kind that is capable of bi-directional rotation. Thecontrol utility is associated with the motor and is configured forcommanding it to alternately rotate in two opposite directions. Theknocking element is coupled to the motor such so as to be rotatedthereby in the two opposite rotational directions. The anvil element hasleading face that protrudes outwardly out of a face of the accesscontrol device and is configured so as to permit it to come into contactwith a knock-receiving surface of a body (e.g. a body of a lock) onwhich the knocks should be impacted. The anvil element and the knockingelement are fitted so as to permit the latter to impact a surface of theformer, e.g. a surface that is opposite to the leading face, so as to besuccessively impacted by the knocking element in each of the tworotational directions. The coded data is encoded by the control utilityinto a series of successive command signals for opposite rotations ofthe motor and thereby into successive knocks.

As may be appreciated the fact that in each operational cycle (whichinvolves rotation in one direction and then in the opposite direction)the knocking element impacts the anvil element twice; in distinction tothe above-noted prior art in which each operational cycle yields asingle knock. This fact by itself may increase the knocking rate.Furthermore, also the bi-directional rotational movement does notrequire operation against the bias of a spring as in the linearreciprocal movement in the prior art coded-knocking device, which mayalso impact the rate. Additionally, the rotational movement of the motorimproves the accuracy of the knocks and hence the interval betweensuccessive knocks may be reduced. These factors are among those thatcause an increase in rate. This increase in rate, in addition topermitting a shorter knocking pulse, also allows transmitting asignificantly larger volume of data in a given time period.

By an embodiment of the invention the data is encoded in the form ofintervals between successive knocks.

By an embodiment of the invention the device comprises a user interfacefor inputting data.

By an embodiment of the invention the anvil element is fitted on top ofone or more elastic elements (e.g. springs) configured for outwardlybiasing the anvil element. The one or more elastic elements may, forexample, be two springs or perhaps four. In such an arrangement, whenthe leading face of the anvil element is pressed against theknock-receiving surface, the anvil element may be slightly retractedinto the body of the device against the biasing force of the one or moreelastic elements. This brings to a firmer contact of the anvil elementwith the knock receiving surface.

By an embodiment of the invention, pressing the leading face against theknock-receiving surface serves as a trigger for operation of the accesscontrol device. By one embodiment, the anvil element is associated witha microswitch and the retraction of the anvil element against the biasof the elastic element engages the microswitch. This may induce thecontrol utility to activate the motor to rotate in opposite directionsto thereby deliver the knock-coded access control code and optionallyother data. Alternatively, the control utility may initially seek thecode, e.g. via Bluetooth communication from and adjacent communicationdevice, and then cause its delivery upon receipt.

By another embodiment the leading face of the anvil element may be apressure-sensitive surface linked to the control utility and function ina manner analogous to that described above in relation to themicroswitch.

The access control device may also comprise a receiver (e.g. a infraredreceiver, RFID receiver, NFC receiver, Bluetooth receiver, receiver forreceiving data over a cellular network or through radio communication,etc.) for receiving data from an external source (e.g. a portablecomputer, a communication device, a cellular phone, a central controllercommunicating through remote communication infrastructure, etc.); and attimes with a transmitter or transceiver for both receiving data from andtransmitting data to an external source. By way of example, an accesscontrol code may be stored in or transmitted to a cellular communicationdevice and delivered therefrom to the access control device by aBluetooth communication protocol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosedherein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice,embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only,with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an external perspective view of a device according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 with some of its upper cover removedto show internal parts.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section through the plane defined by the two arrowsmarked III.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the plane defined by the two arrowsmarked IV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an access control device 100 in accordance with anembodiment of the invention for delivering coded data in the form ofknocks. The top face of the device 102 includes a keyboard 104, which isa user interface permitting a user to input a certain numeric code,which is then encoded by the device into a series of knocks. The userinterface, as may be appreciated, may have a variety of otherconfigurations, for example it may be in the form of a touch-screen, itmay include letter keys, keys of other signs, etc. In other exemplaryconfigurations, the user interface may be in the form of a finger-printscanner and reader, which may be used to verify the identity of theuser, or may even convert a finger-print into a specific, user-relatedknock-code.

Seen at the front end and protruding out of the front face 106 of thedevice is a leading face 108 of a metal block that is the front end ofan anvil element 110.

As can be seen in FIG. 2-4, the device houses a battery 112, has anelectronic control utility 114 linked to keyboard 104. Housed within thedevice is an electric motor 120 (shown as a block without showing itsinternal components) which is coupled by an axle 122 to a knockingelement 124. The electric motor 120 is associated with the controlutility 114 (the manner of association not being illustrated) and thisassociation permits utility 114 to issue command signals to inducealternating, bi-directional rotations of motor 120, as represented byarrow 126 (seen in FIG. 2); and consequently, the knocking element 124reciprocates alternately in these two rotational directions. Element 124has two impacting faces 130A, 130B which in the respective oppositerotational states successively impact on the rear face 142 of anvilelement 110—namely face 130B will impact the rear face 142 of anvilelement 110 in succession after face 130A and vice versa.

When face 108 of anvil element 110 is pressed against a knock-receivingsurface of an impact transmissive body (not shown), the impact betweenimpact faces 130A, 130B and the rear face 142 of anvil element 110, isthen transmitted as a mechanical vibration to said body. This body maybe a surface of a door, a lock, a safe, etc., which includes a pick-upelement for picking up the vibrations coupled to a data decoding utilitythat decodes the data and is responsive thereto. A typical example isaccess control by which an appropriate code causes opening of the lock,safe, etc.

In a typical embodiment, anvil element 110 can reciprocate in alongitudinal direction represented by arrow 140 against the biasingforce of springs 132A and 132B, or any other type of elastic element.The anvil element 110 of this embodiment has a rearward extending arm134, which has rear end that is in close association with microswitch136 such that the retraction of the anvil element causes said rear endto engage the microswitch. Once engaged, the microswitch triggers thecontrol utility to issue a knocks' code. Thus, a typical operation isfor a user to enter the code by the use of the user interface 104 (whichin this example is inputted via a keyboard, but the code may also betransmitted from a user-held mobile device, or generated following ascan of the user's finger-print), and then face 108 is placed againstthe respective body and pressed. Upon such pressure, the anvil elementretracts, the micro-switch is activated and triggers the release of theseries of knocks. As can be appreciated, once pressed, the rear face 142of the anvil element 110 is then positioned more proximal to theknocking element 126, to that which is seen in FIG. 2. Optionally, as asafety measure, if the microswitch is not engaged within a defined timewindow after inputting the code, the control utility is reset and inorder to activate it a new code needs then be entered.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for delivering coded data in theform of knocks, the device comprising: an electric motor capable ofbi-directional rotation; a control utility associated with the motor tocommand it to alternately rotate in two opposite directions; a knockingelement coupled to the motor such so as to be rotated thereby; and ananvil element positioned so as to being successively impacted by theknocking element in each of the two rotational directions and having aleading face protruding outwardly from a surface of the device andconfigured for contact with a knocks-receiving surface; the coded databeing encoded by the control utility into a series of successive commandsignals for opposite rotations of the motor and thereby into successiveknocks.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the data is encoded in theform of intervals between successive knocks.
 3. The device of claim 1,comprising a user interface for inputting data.
 4. The device of claim1, comprising a receiver or transceiver for receiving data from anexternal source.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the anvil element isfitted on top of one or more elastic elements configured for outwardlybiasing the anvil element.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the elasticelements are springs.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein pressing of theleading face of the anvil element against the knocks-receiving surface,activates the device.